Device for Displaying Articles

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to the device for displaying articles, comprising a mounting ( 2 ) which has an internal cavity ( 25 ) with a cavity opening ( 250 ) and which is intended for fixing on a supporting structure ( 9 ). The device also comprises a primary support ( 3 ) which has an end piece ( 30 ) that is designed complementary to the cavity ( 25 ) and which is intended to be hooked into the mounting ( 2 ) in the cavity ( 25 ) in a stationary manner with the end piece ( 30 ) inserted through the cavity opening ( 250 ). The configuration of the end piece ( 30 ) on the primary support ( 3 ) and of the cavity ( 25 ) in the mounting ( 2 ) requires that the end piece ( 30 ) is inserted into the cavity opening ( 250 ) in an end piece ( 30 ) position that is inclined relative to the horizontal with the free end of the end piece ( 30 ) being lowered. When the intended hooked end position between the primary support ( 3 ) and the mounting ( 2 ) is achieved, the end piece ( 30 ) is inserted into the cavity ( 25 ) to the maximum depth. When fixed on the supporting structure ( 9 ) as intended, the cavity ( 25 ) rises from the cavity opening ( 250 ) in relation to the horizontal. The mounting ( 2 ) is fixed on the supporting structure ( 9 ) by inserting said mounting into a recess ( 92 ) on the supporting structure ( 9 ). The mounting ( 2 ) is a single piece and consists of a neck ( 20 ) that surrounds the cavity opening ( 250 ), a body ( 21 ) that extends axially and comprises a front shoulder ( 26 ) to which the neck ( 20 ) is joined, said neck having a smaller outer dimension, a floor ( 23 ) that forms the free end of the body ( 21 ) and lies diametrically opposite the neck ( 20 ), and a clamping contour ( 24 ) that lies on the outer casing of the body ( 21 ). The mounting ( 2 ) further has a widened portion ( 22 ) that runs axially along the upper face of the body ( 21 ).

FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device for displaying articles and includes aholder which is intended for insertion into a carrying structure, and aprimary carrier which can be plugged into the holder by way of its endpiece. Typical carrying structures are panels, rear walls and supports.These types of devices are used first and foremost in shops and atexhibitions for displaying goods. The articles presented—e.g. items ofclothing, accessories, glasses and merchandise packaging—can besuspended directly on the primary carrier. As an alternative to this,one or several primary carriers can be utilized to support differentlyconfigured secondary carriers, such as, for example, trays, boxes,baskets and cross carriers which, in turn, accommodate the articles tobe presented.

PRIOR ART

A first type of pointwise suspending devices is disclosed in WO 2006/086897 A1, where there is a recess in the plug-in sleeve, in which a fixed,vertically projecting stop element on the plug-in part of the carrier,which is to be inserted into the plug-in sleeve initially in an inclinedmanner, engages once it is aligned into the horizontal.

In the case of a further type of pointwise suspending devices as claimedin publications WO 97/26809 A1 and DE 202 02 856 U1, a resilientlyimpressable stop element protrudes radially out of the plug-in part ofthe carrier, said stop element, in the state inserted into the plug-insleeve, latches into a recess arranged therein.

A next type of pointwise suspending devices has an indentation on theplug-in part of the carrier, into which indentation, in the stateinserted into the plug-in sleeve, a spring member resting thereinlatches.

WO 2007/071 079 A1, WO 2005/055 774 A1 and DE 20 2009 001 247 U1 includea type of pointwise suspending devices where there is a raised stopelement in the plug-in sleeve, which raised stop element engages in arecess on the plug-in part of the carrier, which is to be introducedinitially in an inclined manner, once it has been aligned into thehorizontal.

The present invention is also concerned with the type of pointwisesuspension device.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

Proceeding from the genus of the pointwise suspension device, the objectunderlying the invention is to create a simplified device which alsomanages without spring elements and is able to be produced and mountedin series at an economical cost.

A further object, by way of the device produced from a sleeve-shapedholder and a primary carrier which can be plugged therein, is to supportdifferently configured secondary carriers, such as, for example, trays,boxes, baskets and cross carriers, which, in turn, accommodate thearticles to be presented.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device for displaying articles includes a holder, wherein saidholder has an internal cavity with a cavity mouth and is intended forfastening on a carrying structure, and a primary carrier, wherein saidprimary carrier has an end piece which is realized so as to becomplementary to the cavity and is intended to be introduced by way ofthe end piece through the cavity mouth resting in the cavity so as to besuspended in the holder. The configuration of the end piece on theprimary carrier and of the cavity in the holder requires the insertionof the end piece into the cavity mouth in a position of the end pieceinclined in relation to the horizontal with the free end of the endpiece lowered. When the correct suspended end position is achievedbetween the primary carrier and the holder, the end piece is pushed intothe cavity to a maximum depth. When the correct fastening on thecarrying structure is achieved, the cavity ascends from the cavity mouththereof in relation to the horizontal.

Special embodiments of the device are described below: The fastening ofthe holder on the carrying structure is realized by insertion into arecess on the carrying structure.

The holder is in one piece and consists of:

-   -   a) a neck which surrounds the cavity mouth;    -   b) a body which extends axially with a front shoulder, onto        which is placed the neck, which is smaller in its outer        dimension;    -   c) a base which forms the free end of the body and lies        diametrically opposite the neck; and    -   d) a clamping contour which is arranged on the outer surface of        the body.

The holder additionally has a widening which extends axially along thetop surface of the body.

The holder is produced as a plastics material injection molded part andconsists, for example, of polyamide. The clamping contour is realized,for example, as toothing. The cavity mouth is widened outward in afunnel-shaped manner. The cavity mouth extends as far as the base andascends toward the widening in an arcuate manner. The end piece isdeveloped in an arcuate manner.

The cavity in the holder and the end piece of the primary carrier has arectangular cross section. The neck is cylindrical on the outside.

The primary carrier is realized in one piece. The end piece of theprimary carrier closes off at the free end thereof by way of an endface. The primary carrier has a rod part which connects to a step-shapedtransition which borders on the end piece on the other side.

A stopper is present as a stop member on the free end of the rod part ofthe primary carrier. As an alternative to this, the rod part of theprimary carrier is provided with a plurality of upwardly projectingtines in order, for example, to keep hung clothes hangers at a spacing.In addition, a secondary carrier in the form of a cross strut can befixed on the rod part of the primary carrier. In a further modification,there is a hook on the free end of the rod part of the primary carrierfor suspending a secondary carrier in the form of a cross rod which issupported at the same time by at least one further primary carrier. In anext development, there is a stopper as a stop member on the free end ofthe rod part of the primary carrier and there is a claw in the vicinityof the end piece in order to accommodate a secondary carrier in the formof a tray which is supported at the same time by at least one furtherprimary carrier.

The recess on the carrying structure for the inserted fastening of aholder consists of:

-   -   a) an opening which opens out on a front side of the carrying        structure and is intended for accommodating the neck of the        holder;    -   b) an inlet area which opens out on the rear side of the        carrying structure, ends on a shoulder prior to the transition        into the opening and is intended for accommodating the body of        the holder; and    -   c) a bulge which extends at the top from the inlet area and is        intended for accommodating the widening of the holder.

Consequently, the holder can be inserted from the rear end of thecarrying structure into the recess with its neck in front. In the stateof the holder inserted into the recess, the base of the holderpreferably closes off in a flush manner with the rear side and at leastthe body forms a press fit with the recess.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ATTACHED DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1A—shows a perspective view of an exemplary design with the devicesas claimed in the invention, consisting of holders inserted into a panelas the carrying structure and primary carriers inserted therein, withsecondary carriers supported by some primary carriers;

FIG. 1B—shows a front view of the installation according to FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C—show a side view of the installation according to FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A—shows perspective front views of a holder;

FIG. 2B—shows a perspective rear view of the holder according to FIG.2A;

FIG. 2C—shows a side view of the holder according to FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2D—shows a front view of the holder according to FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2E—shows a vertical section of the holder along the line A-Aaccording to FIG. 2D;

FIG. 2F—shows a horizontal section of the holder along the line B-Baccording to FIG. 2D;

FIG. 3A—shows a perspective view of a primary carrier from FIG. 1A, witha straight rod part;

FIG. 3B—shows the enlarged detail X1 from FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3C—shows a side view of the primary carrier according to FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3D—shows a perspective view of a primary carrier from FIG. 1A, withan angled rod part and a sequence of tines;

FIG. 3E—shows a perspective view of a primary carrier from FIG. 1A, witha straight rod part and a claw in the vicinity of the end piece forsupporting a tray as a secondary carrier;

FIG. 3F—shows a perspective view of a primary carrier with a curved rodpart and a cross strut fixed thereon as a secondary carrier;

FIG. 3G—shows a perspective view of a primary carrier with a straightrod part and a hook at the free end for supporting a cross rod as asecondary carrier;

FIG. 4—shows a perspective view of a cross rod as a secondary carrier

FIG. 5A—shows a cutout from the carrying structure according to FIG. 1A,on the rear side thereof, in the region of a recess;

FIG. 5B—shows a vertical section in the carrying structure through therecess along the line C-C according to FIG. 5A;

FIGS. 6A to 6C: show schematic representations of the operation ofinserting a holder according to FIG. 2A into a recess in the carryingstructure, in three stages;

FIG. 6A—shows the initial stage: the holder is moved closer to therecess in an axially aligned manner with its neck first, a counterholder is placed on the front side of the carrying structure;

FIG. 6B—shows the intermediate stage: the holder is pressed partiallyinto the recess;

FIG. 6C—shows the end stage: the holder is pressed into the recess inthe correct end position, the counter holder is removed;

FIGS. 7A to 7D: show schematic representations of the operation ofsuspending a primary carrier according to FIG. 3A in a holder accordingto FIG. 6C which is inserted in the carrying structure, in twopositions;

FIG. 7A—the initial position: the primary carrier, inclined and with itsend piece lowered in relation to the horizontal, is moved closer to thecavity mouth of the holder;

FIG. 7B—shows the enlarged detail X2 from FIG. 7A;

FIG. 7C—shows the end position: the primary carrier is suspended inprinciple horizontally in the holder, the end piece of the primarycarrier rests at maximum depth in the cavity of the holder; and

FIG. 7D—shows the enlarged detail X3 from FIG. 7C.

EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

With reference to the accompanying drawings, the detailed description ofan exemplary embodiment of the device as claimed in the invention iseffected below with structural variants for different applications.

The following statement applies to the entire further description. Ifreference numerals are included in a figure for the purposes ofunambiguousness in the drawing, but are not explained in the directlyassociated text of the description, reference will be made to themention thereof in preceding or subsequent figure descriptions. In theinterests of clarity, the repeated designation of components in furtherfigures is dispensed with for the most part, insofar as it can berecognized clearly from the drawing that it is a question of “recurring”components.

FIGS. 1A to 1C

In the case of fitting out, shown as an example, the carrying structure9 which is provided as a panel, said carrying structure has a grid ofrecesses 92 which open out to the front side 90 and to the rear side 91.Primary carriers 3 in the form of straight arms or downwardly angledarms are suspended in some of said recesses 92. Further bracket-shapedprimary carriers 3 support secondary carriers 4 in the form of crossstruts 42. A tray 41 as a secondary carrier 4 is supported by twoprimary carriers 3 which are positioned at the same height. Thenon-fitted-out recesses 92 are unoccupied and appear as holes whichcould be covered for visual reasons. In said sequence of figures,holders 2 (not shown)—see FIGS. 2A-2F—are inserted into the recesses 92for the suspending of primary carriers 3.

FIGS. 2A to 2E

The sleeve-shaped holder 2 is in one part and consists initially of aneck 20 which is cylindrical on the outside and surrounds the cavitymouth 250, as well as an axially extending body 21 with a front shoulder26, the neck 20, which is smaller in dimension, being placed thereon.The free end of the body 21 is formed by a base 23 which isdiametrically opposite the neck 20. A widening 22, which is arcuate incross section, extends axially on the top surface of the body 21. Aclamping contour 24 which is preferably realized as toothing extendsover the outer surface of the body 21 and the widening 22. The cavitymouth 250 is widened outwardly in a funnel-shaped manner, the cavity 25having a rectangular cross section, extending as far as to the base 23and ascending toward the widening 22 in an arcuate manner. The holder 2is produced as a plastics material injection molded part and consists,for example, of polyamide.

FIGS. 3A to 3C

The single-part primary carrier 3 with a straight rod part 35 has an endpiece 30 which is rectangular in cross section, is developed in anarcuate manner and is realized in a complementary manner to the cavity25 in the holder 2. The end piece 30 of the primary carrier 3 has an endface 31 at the free end thereof. The rod part 35, which is thickened inrelation to the end piece 30, connects to a step-shaped transition 32which at the other end borders on the end piece 30. At the free end ofthe rod part 35 there is a stopper 39 as a stop member.

FIGS. 3D to 3F

The angled rod part 35 of the primary carrier 3 is provided with aplurality of upwardly projecting tines 36 in order, for example, to keephung coat hangers at a spacing (see FIG. 3D). In a next variant, at thefree end of the straight rod part 35 of the primary carrier 3 there is astopper 39 as a stop member and in the vicinity of the end piece 30there is a claw 37 in order to accommodate the secondary carrier 4 inthe form of a tray 41 (see FIG. 3E). At least one further primarycarrier 3 of this type is used in each case to support secondarycarriers 4 in the form of trays 41. In an alternative design, thesecondary carrier 4 in the form of a cross strut 42 is fixed on thecurved rod part 35 of the primary carrier 3 (see FIG. 3F).

FIGS. 3G and 4

At the free end of the straight rod part 35 of the primary carrier 3there is a hook 38 for suspending the secondary carrier 4 in the form ofa cross rod 43 which at the same time is supported by at least onefurther identically realized primary carrier 3. The free ends of thecross rod 43 of the secondary carrier 4 are provided in each case with astopper 49 as a stop member.

FIGS. 5A and 5B

The recess 92 of the carrying structure 9 for insertion of the holder 2consists of:

-   -   an opening 920 which opens out on the front side 90 of the        carrying structure 9 and is intended for accommodating the neck        20 of the holder 2;    -   an inlet area 922 which opens out on the rear side 91 of the        carrying structure 9, ends on a shoulder 921 prior to the        transition into the opening 920 and is intended for        accommodating the body 21 of the holder 2; and    -   a bulge 923 which extends at the top from the inlet area 922 and        is intended for accommodating the widening 22 of the holder 2.

FIGS. 6A to 6C

The principle sequence of the insertion of the holder 2 into the recess92 in the carrying structure 9 is illustrated by way of said sequence offigures.

FIG. 6A (Initial Stage)

With its neck 20 in front, the holder 2 is moved closer to the recess 92from the rear side 91 of the carrying structure 9. In this case, thebody 21 of the holder 2 is positioned in the axial alignment directionwith respect to the recess 92 and the widening 22 of the holder 2 ispositioned in the axial alignment direction with respect to the bulge923 of the recess 92. During the operation for the insertion of theholder 2 into the recess 92—in practice by knocking it in from the rearside 91—it is possible for a counter holder 8 to be placed in positionon the front side 90 in order to prevent said holder from coming out ofthe opening 920.

FIG. 6B (Intermediate Stage)

The holder 2 is partially pressed into the recess 92 by way of its body21. In this case, the body 21 rests in part in the inlet area 922 andthe widening 22 has penetrated into the bulge 923. The neck 20 of theholder 2 lies in the inlet area 922 still in front of the opening 920.The base 23 of the holder 2 and the adjacent part of the body 21 stillstand out beyond the rear side 91 of the carrying structure 91.

FIG. 6C (Final Stage)

The holder 2 is pressed completely into the recess 92 of the carryingstructure 9 with neck 20, body 21 and widening 22. In thiscase—depending on tolerances—the front shoulder 26 of the holder 2 canmove forward as far as the shoulder 921 between the inlet area 922 andthe opening 920. The neck 20 rests in the opening 920, the body 21 inthe inlet area 922 and the widening 22 in the bulge 923. In anadvantageous manner, the frontmost edge of the neck 20 can be allowed toprotrude in a minimum manner over the front side 90 of the carryingstructure 9 in order, consequently, when suspending the primary carrier3, to protect the surface region on the front side 90 of the carryingstructure 9 around the emerging neck 20. The base 23 of the holder 2closes off in a preferably flush manner with the rear side 91 and thesurfaces of body 21 and widening 22 forms a press fit with the recess92. The counter holder 8 is removed from the front side 90 of thecarrying structure 9.

FIGS. 7A to 7D

The operation of suspending a primary carrier 3 with a straight rod part35 in a holder 2 inserted in the carrying structure 9 is basicallyillustrated by means of said sequence of figures.

FIGS. 7A and 7B (Initial Position)

The primary carrier 3, with its end piece 30 in front, lowered inrelation to the horizontal, is initially moved from the front side 90 ofthe carrying structure 9 closer to the holder 2 which is inserted intothe recess 92 and to the cavity mouth 250 thereof. As in the exampleshown, a primary carrier 3 with a straight rod part 35 is used, theentire primary carrier 3 is situated in a position which is inclined inrelation to the horizontal, i.e. the end of the rod part 35 with thestopper 39 is raised, whilst the end piece 30 is right at the bottom.The configuration of the end piece 30 on the primary carrier 3 and thecavity 25 in the holder 2 require the position of the end piece 30 to beinclined in relation to the horizontal when the end piece 30 isintroduced into the cavity mouth 250, which is widened toward the frontside 90 in a funnel-shaped manner. The end face 31 on the end piece 30of the primary carrier 3 is gradually moved closer to the cavity mouth250.

FIGS. 7C and 7D (Final Position)

The funnel-shape of the cavity mouth 250 has facilitated the insertionof the end piece 30. The primary carrier 3 is suspended in the holder 2,in principle, in a horizontal manner, the end piece 30 of the primarycarrier 3 resting at maximum depth in the cavity 25 of the holder 2. Ifthe tolerances of the length of the end piece 30 and the depth of thecavity 25 were to allow an even deeper insertion of the end piece 30,the transition 32 and the cavity mouth 250 would impact against eachother such that the depth of insertion of the primary carrier 3 islimited in all cases and a plurality of primary carriers 3 suspended ona carrying structure 9 produces a precise appearance. For visualcompensation, i.e. avoiding a downwardly sagging impression on thesuspended primary carrier 3 with a straight rod part 35, in particularunder load, a set angle a of, for example, 1.5° is provided, i.e. therod part 35 has a slightly ascending tendency toward the free endprojecting into the area. The operation of the releasing of a primarycarrier 3 out of the holder 2 is effected in a reverse manner graduallyraising the free end of the rod part 35 and at the same time pulling theend piece 30 out of the cavity 25.

1. A device for displaying articles, including: a) a holder (2), whereinsaid holder: aa) has an internal cavity (25) with a cavity mouth (250);and ab) is intended for fastening on a carrying structure (9); and b) aprimary carrier (3), wherein said primary carrier: ba) has an end piece(30) which is realized so as to be complementary to the cavity (25); andbb) is intended to be introduced by way of the end piece (30) throughthe cavity mouth (250) resting in the cavity (25) so as to be suspendedin the holder (2); c) the configuration of the end piece (30) on theprimary carrier (3) and of the cavity (25) in the holder (2) and theinsertion of the end piece (30) into the cavity mouth (250) require theend piece (30) to be in a position inclined in relation to thehorizontal with the free end of the end piece (30) lowered; and d) whenthe correct suspended end position is achieved between the primarycarrier (3) and the holder (2), the end piece (30) is pushed into thecavity (25) to a maximum depth, characterized in that e) when thecorrect fastening on the carrying structure (9) is achieved, the cavity(25) ascends from the cavity mouth (250) thereof in relation to thehorizontal.
 2. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in thatthe fastening of the holder (2) on the carrying structure (9) isrealized by insertion into a recess (92) on the carrying structure (9).3. The device as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2, characterized inthat the holder (2) is in one piece and consists of: a) a neck (20)which surrounds the cavity mouth (250); b) a body (21) which extendsaxially with a front shoulder (26), onto which is placed the neck (20),which is smaller in its outer dimension; c) a base (23) which forms thefree end of the body (21) and lies diametrically opposite the neck (20);and d) a clamping contour (24) which is arranged on the outer surface ofthe body (21).
 4. The device as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3,characterized in that the holder (2) additionally has a widening (22)which extends axially along the top surface of the body (21).
 5. Thedevice as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a) theholder (2) is produced as a plastics material injection molded part andconsists, for example, of polyamide; b) the clamping contour (24) isrealized, for example, as toothing; c) the cavity mouth (250) is widenedoutward in a funnel-shaped manner; d) the cavity (25) extends as far asthe base (23) and ascends toward the widening (22) in an arcuate manner;and e) the end piece (30) is developed in an arcuate manner.
 6. Thedevice as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a) thecavity (25) in the holder (2) and the end piece (30) of the primarycarrier (3) have a rectangular cross section; and b) the neck (20) iscylindrical on the outside.
 7. The device as claimed in one of claims 1to 6, characterized in that a) the primary carrier (3) is realized inone piece; b) the end piece (30) of the primary carrier (3) closes offat the free end thereof by way of an end face (31); and c) the primarycarrier (3) has a rod part (35) which connects to a step-shapedtransition (32) which borders on the end piece (30) on the other side.8. The device as claimed in one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in thata) a stopper (39) is present as a stop member on the free end of the rodpart (35) of the primary carrier (3); or b) the rod part (35) of theprimary carrier (3) is provided with a plurality of upwardly projectingtines (36) in order, for example, to keep hung clothes hangers at aspacing; or c) a secondary carrier (4) in the form of a cross strut (42)is fixed on the rod part (35) of the primary carrier (3); or d) there isa hook (38) on the free end of the rod part (35) of the primary carrier(3) for suspending a secondary carrier (4) in the form of a cross rod(43) which is supported at the same time by at least one further primarycarrier (3); or e) there is a stopper (39) as a stop member on the freeend of the rod part (35) of the primary carrier (3) and there is a claw(37) in the vicinity of the end piece (30) in order to accommodate asecondary carrier (4) in the form of a tray (41) which is supported atthe same time by at least one further primary carrier (3).
 9. The deviceas claimed in one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that a) the recess(92) on the carrying structure (9) for the inserted fastening of aholder (2) consists of: aa) an opening (920) which opens out on a frontside (90) of the carrying structure (9) and is intended foraccommodating the neck (20) of the holder (2); ab) an inlet area (922)which opens out on the rear side (91) of the carrying structure (9),ends on a shoulder (921) prior to the transition into the opening (920)and is intended for accommodating the body (21) of the neck (2); and ac)a bulge (923) which extends at the top from the inlet area (922) and isintended for accommodating the widening (22) of the holder (2); b) theholder (2) can consequently be inserted from the rear side (91) of thecarrying structure (9) into the recess (92) with its neck (20) in front;and c) in the state of the holder (2) inserted into the recess (92), thebase (23) of the holder (2) preferably closes off in a flush manner withthe rear side (91) and at least the body (21) forms a press fit with therecess (92).